Best Bug and Tar Removers: Don’t Bug Me

Top 8 Best Bug and Tar Removers

There’s a marked difference between having to wash a car and wanting to wash a car. The former is a chore that is assigned to sullen teens in the wash bays of countless car dealers across the nation. The latter is a task enjoyed by gearheads on a Sunday afternoon.

Since there is no end to the products and accessories being hawked by retailers purporting to make your ride shine, we’ve selected a segment of the bucket that helps with the most flummoxing of cleaning details – removing bug splatter and tar spray. Many insects have found themselves pasted all over the front of a speeding Cayman or GTI, causing the owner to grumble after they’ve parked on the driveway after a day of canyon carving.

Hey, it’s like J.R. Ewing used to say: some days you’re the windshield, some days you’re the bug.

We’re starting the list with this product since, quite simply, it’s the one on which your author spends his own money. Advertised as a “heavy-duty” bug cleaner (though I think they’re all marketed with those terms, negating their effectiveness), it does a bang-up job of loosening the bug guts off the grilles and headlights of various vehicles that have darkened my driveway over the years.

Its claim of being “easy on paint” is one which I can personally verify as it has never, in my experience, removed anything more than the dead bugs I am trying to evacuate. The foam-type action apparently adds moisture to the offending bugs/tar, which is seemingly the key in getting them to release off the surface. Use it before washing the car or in between for a quick fix after arriving at the canyon’s halfway point.

The Armor All brand has been around for, what, several epochs? This extension of the brand removes bugs, tar, and bird $#!+ from the paintwork of your pride and joy. In a fit of practicality, it is also said to work on glass; just don’t forget to give it a final buff after application.

Like the Meguiar’s product that takes up residence in your author’s arsenal, this Armor All spray can be used for spot cleaning or as a pre-wash treatment. Cross-promotion being the cornerstone of marketing, the seller notes that it will also preserve wax protection – Armor All wax, of course.

Bugs N’ All presents an all-in-one cleaning solution engineered to simplify vehicle maintenance. Its resilient formula is designed to dissolve stubborn bug splatter, tar, tree sap, and road grime with remarkable efficiency.

Beyond its primary function, this product serves as a multipurpose cleaner and degreaser, effectively removing dirt and stains from a variety of surfaces, including automotive paint, chrome, and aluminum.

The non-toxic, biodegradable composition is formulated to be tough on messes yet gentle on your vehicle’s finish, mitigating the risk of scratches. Provided as a 1-gallon concentrate that yields up to 32 gallons of solution, the cleaner represents an economical and high-value option for car detailing enthusiasts and professionals.

Pro

Prosol Works Bugs N’ All Multipurpose Car Cleaner & Degreaser offers exceptional value as a multipurpose concentrate, providing a safe, paint-friendly formula that is versatile enough for use on a variety of surfaces.

Con

Some users report that the product is ineffective at dissolving tough bug and tar residues, often requiring significant scrubbing and performing no better than conventional soap and water.

Bottom Line

Interesting alternative

From the esteemed Renny Doyle Double Black Collection by P&S, this professional-grade bug remover is engineered to eliminate tough bug splatter, tar, and grime. Its potent, industrial-strength formula is designed to deliver a powerful clean on exterior surfaces, including a vehicle’s grill, bumpers, paint, and trim.

The product’s efficacy is matched by an expedient application process, a simple spray-and-rinse method that allows for efficient and effective removal of stubborn debris. As a product from a family-owned and operated company with over 50 years of detailing experience, this product is positioned as a reliable solution for even the most demanding automotive cleaning tasks.

Pro

This industrial-strength, professional-grade solution helps dissolve and remove tough bug splatter and tar with a simple spray-and-rinse application.

Con

The product’s powerful formulation may be overly aggressive, with one user reporting that it stripped paint and caused their vehicle’s headlights to crack.

BugSlide presents a comprehensive, all-in-one cleaning solution designed for year-round vehicle care. It is engineered to effectively remove bugs and other surface contaminants without the need for water, providing a scratch-free finish. Its versatility allows for safe use on a wide array of non-porous surfaces, including paint, chrome, glass, and fiberglass.

The cleaner is formulated to be streak and wax-free, containing a release agent with a UV filter that imparts a crystal-clear finish without any yellowing or powdery residue. As a non-toxic and body-shop-safe spray, it contains no harsh chemicals. The one-step application process includes simple spraying, wiping, and lightly buffing, even in the direct sunlight.

Pro

This waterless cleaner is a versatile, one-step solution for multiple surfaces, providing a scratch-free, streak-free finish with a UV filter for added protection.

Con

In some cases, there’s a significant product leakage during shipping, and some found the cleaner to be ineffective at dissolving bugs, noting that it required considerable manual scrubbing.

This brand does a good job of simple but recognizable branding. Most of its spray bottles are the same, transparent in appearance and showing the color of the product inside. In a tremendous example of doing exactly what it says on the label, Adam’s describes the product in tall, white-on-black Helvetica lettering. If you mix this stuff up for dashboard cleaner, that’s on you.

This is a water-based, high sudsing formula that contains co-solvents and other ingredients to aid in the breakdown of bug bodies and remnants. It is said to be safe on painted surfaces, plastic bumpers, and glass. As an aside, it’s not totally clear if the microfiber mitt shown in several promotional images is included with the spray, though the addition of the word “combo” is a good indicator. Contact the seller to be certain.

Here’s a product that is provided in a spray bottle but does need water to be activated. In other words, think of it as a pre-treatment to be used before you wash the car. According to the ad, it chemically neutralizes acidic bug remains, a feature of the little critters which makes it so important to get them off your car’s paint as quickly as possible.

Overall ratings are good for this product, with a few complainants carping about its inability to perform as advertised. Your author thinks this may be a case of user error, one in which the person did not RTFM and expected this product to work straight out of the bottle. Customers who are slightly more switched on report better results.

This detailing kit offers a convenient solution for addressing stubborn automotive contaminants. The bundle comprises two 16-ounce bottles of Turtle Wax T-520 Bug & Tar Remover, a formulation celebrated for its effectiveness in safely lifting and dissolving residue from vehicle surfaces.

Complementing this is a large Peak microfiber cloth to assist in the cleaning process and help achieve a polished finish. This three-item set is curated to provide a complete and efficient method for removing difficult grime, from insect splatter to road tar, ensuring your vehicle’s paintwork and trim remain clean and protected.

Pro

This product provides a convenient and comprehensive solution by pairing a recognized bug and tar remover with an essential microfiber cloth, offering a complete kit for targeted cleaning.

Con

Some customers report that the bundle is frequently shipped incomplete, with the advertised microfiber cloth missing upon arrival, and the bottles are sometimes taped together in a way that damages the labels.

FAQs

What can I use to remove bugs and tar from my car?

You can either use a bug and tar remover solution that you can buy from your nearest auto shop or online, or prepare a homemade cleaner if you are more of a DIY person.

If you wish to pick the latter approach, the ingredients that you will need are:

Spray Bottle or a Bucket

This will work as a container. You are advised to use a spray bottle as it will be easier for you to apply the homemade solution over the affected areas with it.

Baby Shampoo

To ensure that the solution doesn’t damage the paint on the body of your car.

Vinegar

To get rid of bugs and/or other unwanted elements.

Warm Water

To loosen up the stubborn stains, tar, and bugs.

Cotton Rag or a Microfiber Cloth

To wipe the car after applying the bug and tar remover solution.

The Process

Mix baby shampoo and vinegar with warm water and shake the solution well

Fill the spray bottle with the solution

Spray the fluid over the affected area and leave the car for a couple of minutes

Use the microfiber cloth or cotton rag to gently scrub the residue and wipe those elements off your vehicle

Even if you plan to buy a readymade bug and tar removal solution from the market, the process of cleaning your car with it remains the same.

What is the best cleaner to get bugs off your car?

Many bug removers are available in the local markets and online these days. In addition, you can even prepare a bug and tar removal solution at your home as well. However, if you want to have something that is designed particularly for the purpose and guarantees that it won’t harm your vehicle, the following products are worth consideration:

McKee’s 37 Road Kill ( Buy here!)

This is a kit that comprises a bug remover spray bottle and two pieces of sponges for wipe cleaning. The solution is gentle on clear coats and therefore keeps the integrity of the body intact.

Gtechniq – W8 Bug (Splatter) Remover ( Buy here!)

This solution removes stubborn bug splatters without damaging the finishing of your car. However, the remover is more compatible with Gtechniq coatings.

Is bug and tar remover safe for car paint?

A short and quick answer to the question is, yes. Although no two bug and tar removing solutions share common composition of ingredients, because they have been engineered specifically for the purpose, they are quite safe for car paints and clear coats.

However, while using such a remover, make sure to follow the instructions carefully to avoid any unpleasant results that your car may encounter otherwise.

For best results, always use a microfiber cloth or soft cotton rag to scrub and wipe clean dead bugs and other contaminants from the body of your vehicle.

Will tar remover remove bugs?

Some of them do.

Bugs and tree saps are natural elements and can be easily removed with enzymes. On the other hand, tar is comparatively more stubborn, and therefore a harder solution is required to clean it off. With that said, if you choose any random cleaner, you may damage the paint of your car. Therefore, before buying, you must check what the solution specializes in and then invest your funds to make sure that the finish of your vehicle remains intact.

To answer the question, yes, some tar removers can remove bugs but it’s quite unlikely to be the other way around.

From time to time, TTAC will highlight automotive products we think may be of interest to our community. Plus, posts like this help to keep the lights on around here. Learn more about how this works.

(Editor’s note: This post is meant to both help you be an informed shopper for automotive products but also to pay for our ‘90s sedan shopping habits operating expenses. Some of you don’t find these posts fun, but they help pay for Junkyard Finds, Rare Rides, Piston Slaps, and whatever else. Thanks for reading.)

[Main photo credit: goodmoments / ShutterStock.com. Product images provided by the manufacturer.]